Student protests in Chile turn violent over proposed education cuts

Riot police clashed with student protesters in central Santiago on Thursday during demonstrations against expected cuts to public education funding under President José Antonio Kast’s proposed 2027 budget.

Thousands took to the streets in a mobilisation organised by major student unions, a day after Kast presented his administration’s initial budget proposal.

Police disperse march in central Santiago

Protesters gathered at Plaza Italia and marched along La Alameda towards the La Moneda presidential palace. Police blocked the march about 800 metres along the route, using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Some demonstrators threw stones, bottles and wooden sticks.

Chile’s undersecretary of the interior said at least 17 people had been arrested, according to a statement at a press briefing after the unrest.

Tensions also flared near the main campus of the Pontifical Catholic University when a small group of masked protesters attacked a counter-demonstration by pro-government student groups. The groups were displaying a banner reading: “We do not want a paralysed Chile; we want a Chile that prospers.”

Students warn education funding remains at risk

Kast, a conservative who took office in March on an austerity platform, said on Wednesday that he would protect free higher education for more than 600,000 students. The pledge marked a retreat from earlier discussions about restricting the programme, but student leaders say funding for the wider sector remains under serious threat.

The government has not released the full text of the 2027 fiscal package. Details reported by local media from a leaked draft indicate significant reductions to the Ministry of Education’s proposed spending, including cuts to direct funding for state universities.

Student organisations said they would hold further demonstrations once the full budget bill is submitted to Congress for debate. Kast condemned the violence against students aligned with his political movement, speaking to the press several hours after the clashes.